Saturday, 31 May 2014

We've heard about a host of the growth aids that are out there. The oral supplements (msm, biotin, hairfinity), topical options (Castor oil, essential oils like rosemary, lavender and sage), exercising, increasing your water intake, scalp massages etc. Well, just when you thought you knew it all, here comes another way to speed up hair growth: The inversion method.

As part of my fitness journey I took up yoga classes. Last week, we attempted a hand stand (Lets not go into how woeful my attempt was) and as is typical when a new pose is introduced, my instructor reeled out a list of benefits of the hand stand including its ability to increase hair growth by up to 1 inch in a week! Wait. What? Of course, this piqued my interest, so I got home and promptly started my research.

Here is how it works:

- Heat up a little bit of your preferred hair oil: Lots of people have had good results with olive, coconut or castor oil

- Apply to your scalp and massage for 2 mins

Massage the oil into your scalp for 2 mins

- Stand or sit in a position that inverts your head for 4 mins.

You can bend forward over your kitchen sink, stand in a down ward facing dog position, seat on the edge of a chair and bend forward... Whatever is most comfortable for you. Bearing in mind that you have to hold the position for 4 mins.

Stay in an inverted position for 4 minutes

- When straightening up make sure to do so slowly to avoid feeling light headed or dizzy.

- Repeat once a day for 7 days

Additional info:
- The inversion method works by increasing blood circulation to the head and scalp which results in the availability of more nutrients to the follicles thereby stimulating growth

- Wait 3 weeks between each inversion period to prevent your body from getting used to the increased circulation as this will decrease your results.

Inversion results from the blogosphere:

Simplyshanelly on instagram

Simplyshanelly

Dessy GT on youtube:

See her video below

I am not sure how I feel about hanging upside down for 4 minutes but I do plan to try the inversion method in a few weeks. Will you try this method? What other grow aids are you using and what have your results been. Let me know in the comments below...

Sunday, 18 May 2014

My initial plan was to transition for 2 years. I got to15 months and just couldn't deal with the two textures any more. So this morning, I grabbed a pair of scissors, stood in front of my bathroom mirror and chopped off the relaxed hair! I am now fully natural and loving it... I think.

Check out this 'fro...

#Bigchopped

#NaturalhairFlow

I am now working on a new power regimen because I need this hair to grow back... fast! I am super excited to be natural though. I have a nagging feeling that this is going to be fun!

Saturday, 17 May 2014

I know it's been a while. In fact, I think this is my first post of the year (not good)... so happy new year! I hope you are doing well, staving off those hair journey set backs and seeing some length :)

Sooo like the subject says: I am transitioning to natural. For a number of reasons but primarily because in addition to the fact that I am just plain tired of getting these relaxers I have over the years come to appreciate the aesthetics and versatility of natural hair. The texture, volume, ability to wear both straight styles and natural hair styles, the elasticity and general health. I haven't been natural since I was 16 and I'm really eager to experience and explore my natural texture.

My last relaxer was in february last year so I'm now 15 months post relaxer. I already 'trimmed' about 6 inches off thanks to damage I experienced due to the viciousness that was this winter's 'Arctic vortex'! Granted I was a bit negligent however, I tend to go through periods of negligence where I am not moisturizing my hair as frequently as I should and while I got away with it in Nigeria, apparently, the Canadian winter is no where near as tolerant. #lessonlearned

Being that I am just not a short hair person, my initial plan was to transition for 2 years and gradually trim off the relaxed hair but I'm currently at 7 inches of new growth, tired of dealing with the two textures and just about ready to big chop!

Transitioning: 11 months post relaxer.

I plan to 'big chop' (is it still a big chop if you transition for a year??) this weekend! This is about to be the beginning of a whole 'nother hair journey to waist length...